The leader of the Socialist Party (PS) will propose additional housing measures to the Government, including a capital gains tax exemption on the sale of existing homes for up to €300,000, provided they are purchased as primary residences.

In an opinion piece published in Público newspaper, José Luís Carneiro recalls that the Socialist Party (PS) sent a letter to the Prime Minister on August 5, 2025, with concrete proposals for housing, but received no response, and is therefore now addressing the Portuguese people, proposing further measures.

The Socialist Party is now proposing an exceptional regime, valid for three years, noting that Portugal has hundreds of thousands of empty houses in habitable condition.

Tax exemptions and rental measures

Among the measures are the exemption of capital gains tax on the sale of existing homes, up to €300,000, for owner-occupied housing, reduced taxation between €300,000 and €500,000, and exemption from stamp duty on these purchases and the respective housing loan.

It also proposes a “five-year lease agreement, at the option of the parties, with rents taxed at a rate of 5% and with a public guarantee for the landlord in case of non-payment”.

“We need to get the Tenant and Landlord Help Desk up and running, as it is currently not fulfilling its function. The next generation of housing policies must be designed as a structural response, combining short-term solutions with a consistent medium- and long-term horizon,” he emphasised.

National Affordable Housing Service

The Socialist Party leader also highlighted the National Affordable Housing Service, or SENHA.

“In September, we announced the National Affordable Housing Service (SENHA), a programme for the next decade. SENHA will bring together in a single system the instruments that the State already has and mobilise municipalities, cooperatives, associations, and the public and private sectors to increase the supply of affordable housing,” he said.

According to José Luís Carneiro, the “proposal is being developed through a national consultation, focusing on five areas: supply and innovation in construction; rental and taxation; public, municipal and cooperative housing; youth needs; and social support. It will be presented publicly at the end of this process.”

Calls for government action

José Luís Carneiro called on the Government to “stop postponing and intervene, without, as has been the case until now, making the problem worse.”

The Socialist Party leader also said that “the Government has lacked the political will to move forward and the capacity to design and implement good policies,” noting that the party’s new proposals will be submitted soon.

In the letter sent to Luís Montenegro in August 2025, the Socialist Party proposed seven measures, including the State assuming responsibility for guaranteeing the right to housing and providing municipalities with the financial, technical, and human resources to implement local policies, as well as a national public network for urgent and temporary accommodation, the article recalled.

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